Reel or beam



3, 1946. E. w.- POWELL 2,411,937.

' REEL OR BEAM Filed Jul lb, 1944 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edward WPoureZZ /v I l/ Dec. 1946- E, W. POWELL 2,411,937

REEL OR BEAM Filed July '10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f /6 E ,3

Edward WPoureZZ NKENZQ stock is wound up on the beam.

stamped integral of sheet metal.

Patented Dec. 3, 1946 I than? REEL R BEAM Edward W. Powell, Chicago, Ill, assignor to fiub- Y bard Spool Qompan'y, Chicago ml, a corpora I I tion of Illinois Application m it, 1944, 'senamaatazsi r i e Claims. (or. gala-12s) My invention relates to reels or beams adapted for general use for holding metallic stock such as wire, or textile stock such as cord, thread, yarn, tape, or the like r An important object of the invention is to produce a beam of large capacity but of -compara tively light weight and rigid'construction adapted particularly for holding textile stock such as assembled warp strands to be delivered to looms for the manufacture of tape.

A further object is to produce abeam constructed of comparatively light gauge sheet metal parts in which the heads are in the ,form of sheet metal disks and are stiflened, strengthened and braced by reinforcing spider structures stamped integral from sheet metal with stiffening ribbing and secured to the head disks to form' strong head structures which will resistand withstand,

the spreading strain imposed thereon when the Additional objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification in connection with-the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the beam;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section on plane 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on plane III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a section on plane IV-IV of Figure 1. r a

The beam shown comprises the cylindrical hub I70 which may be of metallic or non metallic material. As shown, it may be a length of metal tubing or may be formed up from sheet metal stock. Each head structure comprises a disk ll of sheet metal, these disks being secured to the ends of the hub by tongues 12 extending from bead to the head disk ii, the side walls 22 ter= urinating in flanges 23 which parallel the disk M and are secured thereto as by welding. The frame portions 99 intermediate the arms incline from the bead l8 and terminate in the flange portions 24 which are in alignment with the arm flanges 23 and are secured to the head disk l i as by welding, the welding of these flanges being indicated at 25. Each spider frame can be readily punch pressed out of a piece of sheet metal stock.

The central portion ll of v each reinforcing frame is held in abutting engagement with the outer face of the projection M of the corresponding head disk when the arms and intermediate portions of the spider frame are welded to the disk. Each projection M has an axial opening 26 for receiving the inner end of a cylindrical trunnion pin 21 which extends outwardly beyond 4 plane of the outer edge of the bead l8 or in a plane outwardly of the bead, and the plane of the outer edge'of the rim flange l5 oi the disk ii is preferably inwardly of the plane of the outer face of the trunnion flange.

A drive abutment is provided on each of the spider frames for receiving a drive member for rotating the beam when it is mounted on its trunnions. As shown onFiguresJ and4 a rectangular radially extending slot 3l may be cut in the spider the hub through slots l3 in the disks and then deflected radially outwardly to be secured as ,by

welding against the outer faces of the disks. The

central portion of each disk which spans the respective end of the hub is deflected outwardly to form the frusto-conicai' projection I. The peripheral portion of each disk is deflected outwardly to form the circular flange or rim i5 having the circumferential groove 16 therein for receiving driving or brake belts.

Each head disk is reinforced by a spider frame Each spider frame into which a driving lug or pin may extend for rotation of the beam. However, to provide more abutment surface for the driving lug or pin,

' the metal of the spider frame is cut to define the inner and outer edges of the slot and the metal frame comprises a circular central portion l1 surrounded by an outwardlydirected peripheral bead I8, the intermediate portions l9, and the arms 20. The arms are of arch cross-section, the crowns 2| thereof being inclined to extend from the between these edges is cut through along the center line a: so that the metal at opposite sides of this line may be deflected inwardly to form the opposed abutment walls 32 for the driving lug or pin..

After-formation of the beams, they may be metal plated or may be lacquered, or otherwise coated as by dipping thereof. In order to prevent accumulation of plating solution or metal, or

' lacquer or coating material in the spaces between the head disks II and the reinforcing frames, the

crown portions 2| of the spider arms terminate short of engagement with the disks ll so as to leave outlets 33 from which the coating material may escape.

I thus produce a beam or reel which is of light weight relative to the load to be carried thereon and whose head structures are amply stiflene'd, strengthened, and reinforced to withstand spreading strains to which they will be subjected The light sheet metal parts can be readily formed integral from sheet metal stock and secured or welded together to produce the rigid structure.

I have shown a practical and efficient embodiment of the features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described as changes and modifications may be made which would come within the scope of the invention as defined in the abutting the disk and being welded thereto, the

crown portions of said arms terminating short of contact with said disk whereby to leave vent openings for the escape of plating metal or solution, or other coating material with which the reel or beam is to'be coated.

2. A reel or beam comprising'a hub and head structures at the ends thereof, each head structure comprising a metal disk having its central portion deflected outwardly into frusto-conical shape, a reinforcing spider formed integrally of sheet metal and having a central portion abutting the deflected portion of the disk, the portion of said spider outside of its central portion being deflected to form radial arms of arch cross section with their side walls terminating in flanges welded to the disk, the deflected portion of said disk having an axial opening and the central portion of said spider having an axial opening of larger diameter than said disk deflection opening, a trunnion pin extending at its inner end through said disk' deflection opening and having a. flange thereon extending into the spider central portion opening, there being clearance between the edge of said spider central portion opening and the trunnionflange for receiving welding metal. for welding the trunnion pin to said disk and spider-central portions.

3. A reel or beam comprising a tubular sheet metal barrel and head structures for the ends thereof, each head structure comprising an inner sheet metal disk secured to the respective end of the barrel and having its central portion which crosses the corresponding end of the barrel bore deflected outwardly to form a frusto-conical projection spanning said end of the bore, and an outer sheet metal disk cut to star shape with its point portions secured against the outer side of the inner-disk, the body portion of said outer disk being deflected outwardly to form a-frusto-conical projection receiving the inner disk projection and of diameter to extend radially beyond said inner the star points of said outer disk being deflected disk projection.

4. A reel or beam comprising a tubular sheet metal barrel and head structures for the ends thereof, each head structure comprising an inner sheet metal disk secured to the respective end of the barrel and having its central portion which crosses the corresponding end of the barrel bore deflected outwardly to form a frusto-conical projection spanning said end of the bore, and an outer sheet metal disk cut to star shape with its point portions secured against the outer side of the-inner disk, the body portion of said outer disk being deflected outwardly to form a frustoconical projection receiving the inner disk projection and of diameter to extendradially beyond said inner disk'projection, said star points of said outer diskbeingdeflected outwardly to arch cross section whereby said outer disk forms a rigid brace for the inner disk to prevent flaring of the heads under. load applied to the reel.

5. A reel comprising a tubular sheet metal a barrel and head structures for the ends thereof, each head structure comprising an inner sheet metal disk, means'securing said inner disk against the respective end of the barrel, the central porto be of arch cross section and being secured at their edges against said inner end disk whereby said outer disk will form a reinforcement for the inner disk to stiffen the head structures against deflection under loads applied to the reel.

6. A. reel comprising a tubular barrel and head structures for the ends thereof, each head structure comprising a sheet metal inner disk and a reinforcing sheet metal outer disk secured to the inner disk, said inner disk having an axial opening of one diameter and said outer disk having an axial opening of larger diameter, a trunnion pin extending at its inner end into said inner disk opening and having a flange thereon extending into the outer disk opening, there being clearance between the edge of the outer disk opening and said flange for receiving welding metal for welding the trunnion pin to both of said disks.

' EDWARD W. POWELL. 

